We are living in scary times. Climate change has become an even more pressing concern, with rising global temperatures and extreme weather events already impacting our lives – and posing even greater dangers to all forms of life. Resources are becoming scarce, causing severe geopolitical tensions. The growing number of violent conflicts, as well as the trade wars causing inflation, is terrifying. Moreover, generative AI is enabling the production of enormous amounts of information, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. Meanwhile, polarization and social inequalities are increasing. The future does not look very bright.
Yet, we believe that the higher education community has both the responsibility and the capacity to turn the tide. This requires bold education: we need to be courageous and break the status quo. True systemic change demands transformative learning, inner development, regenerative leadership and a pedagogy of hope.

Bold Education in Scary Times
The 2025 Higher Education Summit is organized by the COPERNICUS Alliance, oikos International, Students Organizing for Sustainability International and Students4Sustainability and will be held online from 19-20 November 2025.
The conference will bring together students, educators, and changemakers providing a space for collective reflection, discussion, and co-creation for those engaged in transforming higher education into a more sustainable, regenerative learning environment.

Your Contribution
We are looking for your bold, brave, creative, and interactive contributions that have the potential to be transformative. Suggested themes include:
• Citizenship and community engagement
• Emotions, well-being and inner development
• Playful and bold learning and assessment
• Digital technology and misinformation

We also welcome fresh perspectives and new ideas! Submit your BOLD contributions here by 11 July 2025!
Find more details on the Higher Education Summit and the Call for Contributions on the conference website